While the human world awards the best singers and actors, in Alaska, there is an award given to the fattest bear.
A dominant single mother bear residing at the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska was hailed queen of corpulence during the park’s Fat Bear Week.
Single mother bear
“Congrats to 128 Grazer, our 2023 #FatBearWeek champion! (emoji) Though unaware of her title in this imaginary contest, her success is real! For bears, fat = success, & she’s set up well for winter… There’s so much love for our bears! (emoji),” tweeted Katmai National Park and Preserve.
The winner, nicknamed Grazer, garnered 108,321 votes from netizens worldwide in the final bracket of Fat Bear Week, which were 85,187 votes more than the runner-up, Chunk.
“The gutsy girl grounded the guy with a gut. 32 Chunk, proved his prominent posterior was worthy of a whopping win. But in the end, Chunk got Grazered,” the park added.
Best salmon fisher
Grazer is an 18-year-old single mother bear known for his blond ears and light brown fur. Because of her dominance, even the most alpha among the male bears on the river will steer clear when passing by her.
Regarded as one of the best salmon fishers on the river, the newly-crowned fat bear was introduced to Brooks River as a cub in 2005. Since then, she has spent her days fishing in the pools of Brook Falls, which are populated by various kinds of fish like salmon, rainbow trout, and Arctic char.
“Grazer is best known on the river as a very protective and defensive mother bear. When Grazer has cubs, watch out. She will attack the largest, most dominant bears on the river,” Katmai’s media ranger, Naomi Boak, said.
Fat Bear Week is an annual celebration at Katmai National Park and Preserve where netizens from across the globe choose who the fattest bear is.
